Multiple safety cut-out



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J F MQLAUGHLIN MULTIPLE SAFETY GUT-OUT.

No. 527,501. Patented Oct. 16,1894.

N v E N T o R, EumgsEWLaugWwQ WITNESSES:

Attcrncg I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. P. MOLAUGHLIN. MULTIPLE SAFETY OUT-OUT.

Patented Oct; 16,1894.

MIMI! WITNESSES:

INVENTOR, WSIM L WM Bg% Attorney UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

JAMES F. MOLAUGHLIN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MULTIPLE SAFETY CUT-OUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 527,501, dated October 16, 1894. I Application filed January 18, 1890. Serial No. 337,365. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

following is a specification.

turned to make contact with a fresh strip, and complete the circuit therethrough; and;

this operation may be repeated as often as a;

.strip is melted by the passage of an abnor-;

mal current, and until all the strips have! been destroyed. Such a safety-plug or cut-5 out can be used a number of times beforei new strips are inserted, thus avoiding the danger and delay of inserting a fresh strip;

every time the circuit is broken by the passage of an extra heavy current.

It is the object of the present improvements to render the operation of the multiple safety-,

plug or cut-out entirely automatic until all the strips have bcendestroyed, so that no at-; tention is required in order to again complete the circuit each time it is broken by the melting of a fusible strip on the passage of an abnormal current.

In the present instance, the automatic operation is effected by putting the switch-arm spindle under the tension of a coiled spring, and maintaining it in position by a detent of peculiar construction, so arranged that the arm will be released when the circuit is broken by the melting of a fusible strip, and will be automatically caught and held when the circuit is again completed.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, two forms of apparatus embodying my-im-v provements, I wish it to be distinctly under- Be it known that 1, JAMES F. MOLAUGHLIN, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of: Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented cer-; tain new and useful Improvements in Multi-j ple Safety-Plugs or Out-Outs, of which the stood that I arnby no means confined to such identical structures, as they may be variously modified and changed and still embody the principles of my invention.

In the drawings, Figure l, is acentral vertical section of a multiple safety-plug or cutout embodying myimprovements, and show- This invention has reference to improve-j 'ments on the multiple safety'plug or cutout, for which I filed an application for Let-t ters Patent on December 7, 1889, Serial No.5 332,886, and which consists of a series ofi strips of easily fusible metal, permanently connected to one terminal of an electric circuit, and a switch connected to the other ter-@ minal of the circuit, and adapted to make; successive contact with the said fusible? strips, so that when a strip is burned out or& melted by the passage of an excessive cur-; rent through the circuit, the switch may be} ing a protecting case in dotted lines. Fig. 2,

is a top View of the device shown in Fig. 1, I with the switch-shaft or spindle in section.

Fig. 3, is a bottom plan viewof theimproved safety-plug or cut-out, shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4, is a detail View illustrating the fusible strips and the manner of constructing the same. illustratingthe automatic detent, and the switch for breaking the circuit and for looking the detent when the safety-plug or cutout is being placed in' the circuit, or when Fig. 5, is a view, partly in diagram, i

new strips are being inserted. Fig. 6, is a central vertical section of a modified form of my improvements. Fig. 7, is an elevation of the front end of the same, with the handle removed. Fig. 8, is an elevation of the'rear end of the same; and Fig. 9,: is a sectional" elevation, partly in diagram, of a modified form of detent.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout all the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, there is shown a circular skeleton base 1, terminating at the upper end in an inwardly projecting annular flange 2, on which rests a disk 3, of

some refractory insulating material, prefer '1 ably slate, secured to the flange, 2, by screws 4, extending through the plate and entering suitable nuts formed in said flange.

Erected on the disk 3, are posts 5, secured to said disk by screws 6, extending upward i through the disk and entering suitable nuts in the lower ends of said posts. On the upper'ends of the posts rests another disk 7, of slate or other refractory insulating material, being secured to said posts by screws 8,

extending through the disk, and entering suitable nuts formed in the upper ends of said posts.

On the upper face of the disk 7, there is formed an annular groove 9, and seated in this groove, which is rectangular in cross-section, there are a number of segmental blocks 10, which are secured in the said groove, at equal distances apart, by screws 11, extend ing upwardly through the disk 7, and entering nuts formed in the said blocks, there being one screw for each block. The blocks are provided with ledges extending to each side of the groove 9, and resting on the face of the disk 7, as shown in Fig. 1, and the inner edges 12, of the said blocks are thickened to form expanded faces, each of which is a section of a cylinder surface described from the center of the disk 7.

The spaces between the contiguous ends of the blocks 10, are filled with other blocks 13, of insulating material, similar in form to the blocks 10, and having their inner faces flush with the thickened edges 12, of the said blocks.

Extending through a central perforation in each disk 3, and 7, there is a vertical shaft or spindle 14, seated at its lower end in the crossbar 15, secured in recesses 17, near the lower edge of the base 1,by means of screws 18, the said cross-bar being insulatedfrom thebase by the interposition of suitable insulating material, indicated in Fig. 3,by appropriate shading. One end of this bar extends beyond the base, as shown at 19, Fig. 3, and carries a binding-post, indicated by dotted lines at 20, for the reception of the terminal of one of the circuit wires 21.

Immediately above the disk 7, the spindle 14, carries a switch-arm 22, it being held to the said spindle by means of a set screw 23. This switch-arm extends to one side of the spindle and there carries a contact brushblock 24, having a stem 25, which enters a socket 26, and abuts against a helical spring 27, confined in said socket.

The switch-arm is of such length that the brush-block 24, carried thereby will be forced into close contact with the faces 12, of the blocks 10, by the spring 27, and the arm 20, is provided with a lip 28, extending beyond its free end, and bearing upon the upper face of the brush-block 24, as shown, to prevent the latter from turning in its socket.

The construction of the switch-arm and of the blocks 10, together with that of the disks 3 and 7, and the means for maintaining them at a distance apart, is substantially the same as that of the same parts shown and described in my aforesaid application.

Secured to one of the posts 5,is one end of a coiled spring 29, the other end of which is secured to the spindle 14, so that when the said spindle is turned in one direction by means of a handle 30, at its upper end, provided for the purpose, the spring 29, will be wound up and will then tend to rotate the spindle in the other direction, until the tension of the spring is relieved, as will be readily understood.

On the spindle 14, below the disk 3, there is a ratchetwheel 31, and between this ratchet and the said disk 3, there is a plate or wheel 32, loosely mounted on the said spindle and carryinga pawl 33, arranged to engage the teeth of the ratchet 31; and depending from the under side of this plate or wheel 32, there are a number of equidistant pins 34.

Secured to a stud 35, depending from the under side of the flange 2, of the base 1, there is an electro -magnet 36; and a horizontal armature 37, is pivoted at one end to a stud 38, formed on the base 1, in such manner that its other or free end may be moved into and out of the path of the pins 34, on the wheel 32. To this armature is secured one end of a retractile spring 39, tending to draw it away from the magnet, the other end of the spring being secured to a tension regulator composed of a pin 40,journaled in studs 41, formed on the interior of the base 1, so that it may be turned to wind more or less of the end of the spring on it, and thus regulate the tension thereof.

In the path of the armature-lever 37, there is a rod 42 extending through suitable bearings in the base 1, as indicated in Fig. 3, and having its other end adjacent to a cam 43, forming the shorter arm of a switch-lever 44, arranged to make contact with a contact-plate 45. This switch is located in the external circuit of the cut-out, formed by the conductor 21, as indicated in the diagram illustrated in Fig. 5.

It will be evident that when an electric current is passed through the magnet, the armature 37, will be attracted against the action of the spring 39, and the free end of the armature will then be in the path of the pins 34, on the wheel 32, so that when the latter is rotated in the manner hereinafter set forth, one of the pins will engage the said end, and the wheel will thus be held against further rotation in the same direction. l/V'nemhowever, the magnet is de-energized, the spring 39, will draw the armature out of the path of the pins 34, and the wheel 32 will then be free to rotate. It will also be evident that when the switch-lever 44, is moved off the contact-plate 45, its cam-shaped end 43, will engage and move the rod 42, longitudinally, and this red, engaging the armature, will move the same until in the path of the pins 34. The two positions of the switch-lever are clearly indicated in Fig. 5, the dotted lines indicating the position of the said switch-lever when closed, and the full lines indicating the position of the switch-lever when open, and in this latter position it will be noticed that the cam-shaped end 45, of the switch-levcr locks the armature in the path of the pins 34, and prevents the rotation of the wheel 32, in either direction.

It will be understood that the armature serves as a detent preventing the rotation of the wheel 32, when in one position, and releasing it when moved to the other position, whether the said armature be controlled by the magnet and spring, or by the switch and rod 42.

One terminal 46 of the magnet-coil is con- IIO nected to a metallic ring or annulus 47, se-

cured to the under side of the disk 3, by screws 48, and the other terminal 49, is connected to the metal strip 50, extending through a recess 51, in the base l,from which the said strip is insulated by suitable insulating material, and to which it is secured by a screw 52; and outside of the base, the strip 50, car ries a binding-post 53, which receives the terminal of a conductor 54. The screws 48, extend upward through the disk 3, and above the same enter nuts formed in a ring 55, be-

tween which latter and the disk 3, is confined another ring 56, constructed of easily fusible metal, the said ring 56, having perforations for the passage of the screws 48.

Projecting from the ring 56, are a number of arms or strips 57, integral therewith, and notched, as shown at 58, near'the point of juncture with the said ring, so that they may be readily turned upward at right angles thereto. The ring and strips of easily fusible metal are preferably stamped from a sheet of such metal, the strips being afterward turned to an upright position at right angles to the ring, the notches 58, facilitating such bending of the arms, as stated above. When the ring is confined between the disk 3, and the ring 55, the strips 57, extend upward to the disk 7, and their ends are turned outward, as shown at 59, Fig. 1, and are either perforated or slotted; and are held in place against said disk 7, and connected to the blocks 10, by the screws 11, which extend through the perforations or slots in the ends 59, of said strips, each screw carrying a washer 60, which bears against the ends 59, and insures good electrical contact between the said strips and screws. Good electrical contact between spindle 14 and cross-bar 15, is obtained by contact-brushes 61 (indicated in dotted lines, in Fig. 3) mounted upon said cross-bar 15, and bearing against the said spindle.

A safety-plug or cut-out constructed as described, will operate in the following manner: The cut-out having been properly mounted and the switch-lever 44, moved away from the contact 45, so as to break the circuit, the handle 30, is manipulated to turn the spindle'14, in the proper direction to wind the spring 29. As has been before explained, when the switch is open, the wheel 32 isheld against rotation, and, therefore, when the spindle is turned to wind the spring (which will be in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 5) the teeth of the ratchet 31, will ride under the pawl 33, and the turning of the spindle is continued until the desired tension of the spring is obtained, and the contact brush-block 24, rests against one of the contact blocks 10. The switch is now closed,and the circuit is established, the current entering through the conductor 21, and passing through the closed switch 45, 44, to the cross-bar 15, and thence by way of the spindle 14, and switch arm thereon to that block 10 with which the brush-block 24, on switch-arm 22, is in contact, and thence through the fusible strip 57, connected to the said block, and the ring 47, and thence through the magnet 36, out through the strip 50, to the conductor 54. When the circuit is established, the magnet is energized and the armature is drawn into the path of the pins 34, on the wheel 32, and the spindle 14, is thereby held against rotation, as before explained.

On the passage of an abnormal current through the circuit, the particular fusible strip at that time included in the circuit is destroyed, and the circuit is thereby broken. The break in the circuit causes the magnet to be de-energized, and the spring 39, draws the armature out of the path of the pins 34, it being understood that when the switch is closed, the rod 42 is free to move and offers no resistance to such movement of the armature. As soon as the armature is moved away from the path of the pins, the wheel 32 being free to rotate, is so rotated by spring 29, acting upon spindle 14, which thus carries the switch-arm 22, from the contact block 10,connected with the strip 57, just melted by the excessive current, to the next succeeding contact block 10, which is connected with an unbroken strip 57. As soon as the circuit is thus again completed, and before the next succeeding pin of the wheel 32, has reached the position occupied by the pin which first engaged the end of the armature, the magnet is energized and the armature is drawn toward the same until its free end is again in" the path of the pins. The wheel 32, is thus again locked against rotation, and the spindle 14, is prevented from turning further on its axis. When, in the course of continued consumption of current an excessive current again passes over the circuit, the new fusible strip then included in the circuit is melted, and the instrumentalities described, again act in the manner set forth, and another strip of fusible metal is automatically brought into the circuit, and this operation is repeated, on the passage of abnormal currents, until all the strips have oeen melted. It is then necessary to insert a new series of strips, after which the spring may again be put under tension in the manner before described, and the appa ratus thereby adjusted for operation, when it will resume its automatic action, in the manner set forth.

It will be seen that no attention whatever is required for the perfect operation of the safety-plug from the time it is placed in the circuit, until all the strips have been successively destroyed, thus avoiding the delay of either inserting a new strip every time one is burned out, or the necessity of an attendant turning the contact-switch every time the circuit is broken by the passage of an ab normal current.

The working parts above the disk 3, are protected by a suitable casing, indicated in dotted lines at 61, and the handle 30, may be provided with an index finger, or pointer 62, which at any time will indicate, by a suitable scale (not shown) on'the upper face of the casin g, the number of fusible strips that have been burned out. This, however, forms no part of the present invention, and as the application of a scale would be readily apparent to any skilled mechanic, no illustration is given in the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive, there is shown a modified form of cut-out, embodying, however, substantially the same principles of construction shown in the figures previously described. In this instance, there is shown a base-board 63, on which is erected a post 64, having a foot 65, through which extend screws 66, for securing it to the base-board. The upper end of the post 64, is expanded into a sleeve 67, which receives, and to which is secured by screws 68, a cylindrical supporting block 69, of slate, or other refractory, insulating material. This block 69, is held in a horizontal position by the sleeve, and extending centrally through it is the switch-spindle 14, carrying at one end the handle 30, and near the handle, having secured to it the switch-arm 22, in which is seated the spring-actuated contact brush-block 24, arranged to make successive contact with the series of contact blocks 10, arranged around a central opening or recess 70, in the end of the block 69, and these blocks 10, are spaced by other blocks 13, of insulating material, as in the construction before described. In each of these contact blocks 10, is formed an eye 71 which receives one end of a rod 72, of easily fusible metal and to which the block 10, is secured, by a set screw 7 3, entering said eye. The fusible rods 72, extend beyond the other end of the cylindrical supporting block 69, that is, the end opposite the recessed end thereof, and they are there flattened and bent laterally, and are held to the metal ring 74, by screws 75, which extend through the flattened ends of the rods 72, and through perforations in the ring 74, and enter suitable nuts formed in the end of the cylindrical supporting block 69.

The spindle 14, is held against longitudinal movement in its bearings by collars 76, secured to it, and within the recess 70, there is seated a spring-barrel 7 7, containing a coiled spring 78, one end of which is attached to one of the collars on the spindle 14. The function and operation of this spring is identical with that of the spring 29, described with relation to Fig. 1. The end of the spindle l4 opposite that carrying handle 30, has a bearing in a post or standard 79, mounted near one end of the base-board 63, and between this bearing and the cylindrical supporting block 69 the spindle carries the wheel 32, on one face of which are the pins 34, and which is connected to turn with the spindle when rotated in one direction by the ratchet 31, and pawl 33, in the same manner as described with reference to Figs. 1, 3 and 5.

The Wheel 32, is controlled by a detent, similar to that described with reference to the first form of cut-out, that is, there is an upright armature-lever 37, pivoted at its lower end in a bracket 80, secured to the base-board 63, and having its upper or free end movable into and out of the path of the pins 34. This detent differs from the one before described, in being upright instead of horizontal, and moving to and from the face of the wheel 32, in a plane at right angles to the plane of the face of the said wheel, instead of in a plane parallel thereto.

The armature-lever is drawn into the path of the pins 34, by the electro magnet 36, one terminal 81, of which is connected to the ring 74, by one of the screws 75, and the other terminal 82, of which is connected to the foot 65, of the post 64, by a screw 83, and this foot has secured to it a binding-post 84, for receiving the terminal of one of the circuit-wires. (Not shown.)

The armature-lever is drawn out of the path of the pins 34, by helical spring 85, one end of which is attached to the said armaturelever and the other end of which is attached to the screw-pin 86, which passes through a bracket 87, formed in one side of the post or standard 79, and receives an adjusting screw 88.

The movement of the armature-lever 37, away from the wheel 32, is limited by an adjustable stop-screw 89. Extending through the post or standard 79, is the sliding rod 42, and pivoted to a bracket 90, on the post 79, is the switch-arm 44, with its cam-shaped end 43, in operative relation to one end of the rod 42, so that when the said switch is on the contact plate 45, to which is connected the terminal of the circuit wire 21, the said camend 43, will be out of the path of the rod 42, and the armature-lever 37 will be free to move under the action of the spring and magnet; but when the switch is moved off the plate 45, the end 43, will engage and move the rod 42, so as to force and hold the armature-lever 37 with its free end in the path of the pins 34, in the manner and for the purpose described with relation to Figs. 3 and 5.

To make good electrical contact between the spindle 14, and post 79, with which latter the plate 45, is connected by the switch, when closed, there is provided a contactbrush 61, mounted on the post 79, and bearing against said spindle 14, all substantially in the manner described with reference to Fig. 3.

The operation of this form of safety-plug is identical with that of the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, and for this reason no description of the operation of the modified form of apparatus is deemed necessary.

Referring now to Fig. 9, there is shown a modified form of apparatus for operating the detent. The spindle 14, fusible rods 72,

switch-arm 22, and wheel 32, are shown diagrammatically. The magnet 36 and armature 37, are the same as in the other forms of apparatus.

In this instance, however, the

retractile spring for the armature is replaced ,by a permanent magnet 91, mounted upon a suitable bracket 92 which is held to a base piece by screws 93, extending through a slot 94, in an extension of the bracket 92. This slot permits the adjustment of the permanent magnet 91, to or from the armature. In this construction, when the circuit is complete, the electro-magnet 36, is energized, as in the other forms, and attracts the armature, so that its free end is in the path of the pins 34, but when the circuit is broken by the melting of one of the rods 72, or strips 57, as the case may be, and the magnet 36, is thereby de-energized, the armature 37 is drawn away from the electro-magnet, by the permanent magnet 91, and is turned about its pivot until its free end is outof the path of the pins 34; and when the electro-magnet is again energized, the armature is again drawn with its free end into the path of the pins 34, it being understood that the attraction of the permanent magnet is overcome by that of the electro-magnet.

It will also be observed that the permanent magnet operates as a limiting stop for the armature, and that in this form of apparatus both the retractile spring and stops for limiting the action of the same, are avoided, the

permanent magnet serving the function of both these instrumentalities.

It will be evident that the permanent magnet may be applied to either of the forms illustrated in the other figures of the drawings.

Having now fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a multiple safety-plug or cut-out, the

combination with a series of easily fusible conductors, all connected at one end with one terminal of an electric circuit and insulated from each other at the other end; of a springactuated switch between the insulated ends of the fusible conductors and the other terminal of the circuit; an electro-magnet in the circuit; a detent for the switch, actuated in one direction by the magnet; and a spring for actuating the detent in the other direction, substantially as described.

2. A multiple safety-plug or cut-out, consisting essentially of an electric circuit, a series of easily fusible conducting strips or rods, a spring-actuated switch adapted to include any one of the strips in'the circuit, a handswitch also included in the circuit, and a detent in operative relation to both switches, whereby the spring-actuated switch is locked when the circuit is opened by the hand-switch, substantially as described.

3. A multiple safety-plug or cut-out, consisting essentially of an electric circuit, a series of easily fusible conducting strips or rods, a spring-actuated switch adapted to include any one of the strips in the circuit, a detent for the switch, an electro-magnet controlling the detent to lock the switch when the circuit is closed, and a hand-switch for opening the circuit and simultaneouslylocking the springactuated switch, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES F. MCLAUGHLIN.

Witnesses:

HERBERT P. KER, H. F. REARDON. 

